BREMERTON — Cheers erupted from a section of fans dressed in green in the Bremerton High School Auditorium Saturday night as Alex Duchemin was crowned Miss Poulsbo 2007.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this honor,” Duchemin said with a smile, following the Miss Poulsbo/Miss Kitsap Scholarship Pageant.

Duchemin, a 22-year-old graduate of Western Washington University, has a degree in English elementary education. Her platform, titled “The Power of One,” focuses on bringing differently abled individuals together.

“We are so proud and so happy,” said her mother, Wendy Duchemin. “Her platform isn’t just a platform ­­— she really practices it.”

Contestants competed in four different categories: lifestyle and fitness, talent, onstage question and evening wear. Duchemin proved her poise and balance, while displaying her physical fitness in a black two-piece bathing suit.

“I am her No. 1 fan, and her No. 1 critic,” said her sister, Toni Duchemin. “I am beyond words and beyond proud (of her).”

When asked how she would implement her platform in the community for the onstage question, Duchemin said she wanted to introduce an adaptive aquatics program in the community. Through this program, she said, people of all different ability levels could come together and swim as buddies, one with a disability and one without.

“Everyone would be on the same, level playing field,” Duchemin said.

For the talent portion of the pageant, Duchemin presented a dramatic bilingual monologue titled “Coat of Many Colors.” Along with descriptively telling the story, she also interpreted the words in sign language.

Once the monologue came to a close, the audience exploded into applause as Duchemin turned to show the back of her coat, which had been decorated in a patchwork design to coincide with the narrative.

“(Alex) loves this community,” Wendy Duchemin said. “She pushes herself, and this gave her good experience.”

In the last event of the night, Duchemin captivated the audience with her presence and poise in the evening wear category. Wearing a satin, floor-length halter gown in a bright green shade with a diamond clasp, Duchemin showed off her elegant walk as she glided across the stage.

A wide smile lighted up Duchemin’s face after her name was called as the new Miss Poulsbo. She also was awarded a $5,000 scholarship along with the title. As part of the honor, Duchemin also earned awards in the categories of scholastic achievement, community achievement in interview, living the platform, the Ruby Watland Community Service Leadership award and People’s Choice in talent.

Duchemin said her total awarded earnings of $6,400 will be applied to school loans.

In preparation for Miss Washington, Duchemin said she’s first going to implement the adapted aquatics program because it is the most important to her.

“I have lived locally for a long time now,” Duchemin said with a smile. “It is important for me to do my best.”